Mucking machines and excavators of the telescopic boom-type



June 8, 1965 P. c. O'LEARY 3,187,916

MUCKING MACHINES AND EXCAVATORS OF THE TELESCOPIC BOOM-TYPE Filed June 6, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. PAUL C. O'LEARY A Home June 8, 1965 P. c. OLEARY 3,187,916

MUCKING MACHINES AND EXCAVATORS OF THE TELESCOPIC BOOM-TYPE Filed June 6, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0: I N o /N I I T M I 0, a, va z a a: 2:

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A tto ne v United States Patent pany of Canada Filed June 6, 1962, Ser. No. 200,494

3 Claims. (Cl. 214-657) This invention relates to improvements in a telescopic boom-type mucking machine or excavator.

Mucking machines or excavators are known in the art and are now relatively widely used, particularly in sinking mine shafts and caissons. A particularly satisfactory mucking machine or excavator is disclosed in detail in United States Patents Nos. 2,781,140 and 2,949,201 issued, respectively, February 12, 1957 and August 16, 1960. The machine disclosed in these patents includes a telescopic boom comprised of a first section connected at one end to a fixed member for universal movement, a telescopic section slidably carried by the first section for retraction into and extension from the first section, a bucket carried by the free end of the telescopic section, and operator controlled, fluid actuated means for guiding the boom, for retracting and extending the telescopic section, and for moving the bucket into its material collecting, carrying and discharging positions. Usually, in sinking mine shafts and caissons, it is preferred to use a clam-type bucket comprised of two co-operating half sections which are pivotally mounted at the free end of the telescopic section. In other uses of the machine, a type of bucket is selected with regard to the type of material to be collected at one location and discharged at another location, such as a bucket which is adapted to be tilted to material collecting and discharging positions and returned to and held in an upright position for carrying material.

The boom and the bucket are actuated by operator controlled, fluid actuated, double acting, piston-andcylinder assemblies connected to the first boom section, the telescopic section and the bucket. Usually four piston-cylinder assemblies are connected to the first boom section to actuate it in its horizontal and vertical movements. The telescopic section of the boom is actuated by a fixed, double acting piston. If a clam-type bucket is employed, a piston-cylinder assembly is provided for each half-section. Only one piston-cylinder assembly is required to actuate a conventional one piece bucket.

A fluid, such as Water, or air, is employed to actuate the boom and bucket parts, of which air is preferred, particularly when the machine is exposed to sub-freezing temperatures. Other conventional or unconventional fluids can be employed, if desired.

A problem is encountered in the operation of this type of machine, in that the fluid lines to the bucket actuating pistoncylinder assembly or assemblies must be of a length sufficient to reach the bucket actuating pistoncylinder assembly when the telescopic section of the boom is in its fully extended position and hang loosely When it is in its retracted position. Thus, the fluid lines are exposed along the length of the boom and may be damaged or worn or even severed by contact or entanglement with the material being collected in the bucket. I have overcome this problem by providing the required fluid connections to the bucket actuating piston-cylinder assemblies in the form of novel telesscopic tube assemblies which are secured to and carried by the telescopic and first sections of the boom.

I have found that in addition to overcoming the problem of exposed fluid hose lines by functioning as rigid though telescopic fluid feed lines, the telescopic tube assemblies of this invention have a further important advantage in that said tube assemblies are actuable by the fluid under pressure in such a manner as to assist and supplement the extensive and retractive action of the telescopic boom section as well as to provide the fluid supply to actuate the bucket in its collecting and discharging positions.

Accordingly, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a telescopic fluid feed assembly for mucking machines and excavators of the telescopic boom-type which is adapted to perform the dual function of supplying fluid to the piston-cylinder assembly or assemblies which actuate the bucket to its material collecting, carrying and discharging positions and of assisting in theextension or retraction of the telescopic boom section.

Essentially, the invention involves the use of telescopic tube assemblies for the flow of fluid under pressure to the double acting piston-cylinder assemblies employed to move the bucket into its material collecting or discharging position and to move it to its material carrying position, with a concurrent extension or retraction of said tube assemblies under the influence of said pressurized fluid, thus to supplement the extension or retraction action of the telescopic boom section to its fully retracted or extended positions.

An understanding of the present invention can be obtained from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the first section of a telescopic boom of the type used with mucking machines and excavators; the telescopic section; a clam-type bucket comprised of two half sections pivotally connected to the free end of the telescopic sections of the boom, and the piston-cylinder assemblies which actuate the sections of the clam-type bucket to their open and closed positions, and the telescopic fluid feed lines which feed fluid to the piston-cylinder assemblies;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of telescopic fluid feed lines to the piston-cylinder assembly partly cut away to illustrate the flow of fluid therethrough; and

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view in section of the telescopic fluid feed assembly.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the description and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 11 indicates the first section of a telescopic boom of the type used with mucking machines and excavators. One end of the first section 11 is connected to a fixed member, not shown, for universal movement, such as by a universal joint, within the limits of its actuating mechanism, according to known practice. A telescopic section 12 is slidably carried by the first section 11 and is mounted for retraction into and extension from the first section. A clam-type bucket 15 having co-operating half-sections 16 and 17 is pivotally mounted at the free end of the telescopic boom section 12. Each of the half-sections 16 and 17 is actuated by a double acting piston-cylinder assembly 18-19 which is secured at one end adjacent to the free end of the telescopic boom section and, at its other end, is pivotally secured, by pivots 20-21, to its respective clam half-section.

The bucket assembly is described and illustrated herein as being of the clam-type comprised of two half-sections. It will be understood that it can be of another conventional type, such a a unitary structure which is adapted to be tilted to collect and discharge material and to be moved to an erect position for carrying material. If the bucket is of a unitary construction, only a single piston-cylinder assembly is required for actuating it.

The telescopic fluid feed assembly comprises a pair of spaced inner tubes 25-26 and outer tubes 27-28 slidably mounted on the inner tubes with annular spaces 39-39a between the opposing walls thereof. Hose lines 23-24 under pressure, such as compressed air.

are connected at their rearward ends to a source of fluid The flow of fluid to the hose lines 23-24 is operator controlled by valve means well known in the art. Hose lines 23-24 are connected, at their forward ends, to inner tubes 25-26 which are rigidly secured, at their rearward ends to first boom section 11. The forward ends of pipe lines 25-26 are slidably connected in telescopic relationship to the rearward ends of outer pipe lines 27-28, the forward ends of which are secured to a plate 29 carried at the forward end of telescopic boom section 12.

Pipe lines 25-26 carry double-acting piston 30-31, respectively, at their forward ends. Leather cups 32-32a are provided on each side of pistons 30-31 to prevent the flow of fluid thereby. Pistons 30-31 and their associated leather cups 32-32a are rigidly secured to pipe lines 25-26 by means of lock nuts 33-34 and by annular flanges 35-36.

The forward end of pipe line 25 carries a plug 37 which prevents the flow of fluid therethrough and forces fluid to flow through ports 38 into annular passage 35 between pipe line 25 and pipe line 27.

The space 39-3911 at the rearward ends of the inner and outer tubes 25-26 and 27-23, respectively is closed by a packing gland 40-41 comprised of a bearing cap 42, a bearing 43, a gasket 44, packing and a packing cap 46.

A pipe 49 is provided between the outer tubes 27-28 and extends from a point forwardly of the packing glands 40-41 to a point rearward of the piston-cylinder assemblies 30-31. The rearward end of the pipe 45 is in communication with the spaces 39-39:: through a connection 48 with manifold 47 which extends therebetween. The forward 'end of pipe 49 is connected to a T 50 which extends, on one side, to the hose line 51 which is connected to the port 53 at the rearward end of the double acting piston-cylinder assembly 18 and, on the other side, to hose line 52 which is connected to the port 54 at the rearward end of double acting piston-cylinder assembly 19.

Ports 55-56 at the forward end, respectively of pistoncylinder assembly 18-19 are connected, by hose lines 57-58, to the manifold which is in communication with the forward ends of outer tubes 27-28.

The actuation of the bucket and the retraction and extension of the telescopic section of the boom are described hereinafter starting with the two half-sections 16-17 of the bucket in open position and the telescopic section of the boom in an extended position. The half-sections are closed to a material carrying position by actuating a valve which admits fluid under pressure into hose line 23 and into inner tube 25. The fluid flows through pipe line 25 and is diverted through ports 38 into annular passageway 35. The fluid then reverses its direction and flows through the space 39 to the manifold 47 and into pipe line 49 to T 50 and through hose lines 51-52 to urge the pistons in assemblies 18-19 from their rearward to their forward positions. As the pistons move into their forward positions, the fluid is exhausted from the forward ends of the cylinders through hose lines 58-58 into the manifold 60 at the forward ends of the tubes 27-28 and through inner tube 26 to exhaust to the atmosphere. In the meantime, the fluid pressure in the annular passageways 39-39a on the upperside of piston-cylinder assemblies 30-31, urges tubes 27-28 in a rearward direction on tubes 25-26. As tubes are fixedly secured to the telescopic section of the boom, the pressure of the fluid is usefully employed in aiding in the retraction of the telescopic section of the boom 12 into the fixed section 11.

The two half-sections of the bucket are actuated to their open positions by feeding fluid under pressure into hose line 24, through inner tube 26'into the forward end of tube 28, and through the hose lines 57-58 to the forward ends of the piston-cylinder assemblies 18-19 to urge the pistons therein toward the rearward ends of the 4 cylinders. A the pistons move rearwardly, fluid is exhausted from the rearward ends of the cylinders through hose lines 51-52 to tube 49, through tube 49 to inner tube 25 and exhausts to the atmosphere. In the meantime, the pressure on the underside of the piston-cylinder assemblies 30-31 urges the tubes 27-28 in a forward direction on tubes 25-26 and thus aid in extending the telescopic boom section 12 to its extended position.

The improved telescopic tube assemblies for feeding fluid under pressure to actuate a bucket to its material collecting carrying and discharging positions of this inven tion possesses a number of important advantages. The feed tubes are secured to and carried by the telescopic and first boom sections. Thus, the danger of damage by contact or extanglement with loose or broken material being collected by the bucket is overcome. Also, the fluid under pressure required to actuate the bucket to its vari ous operative positions can be usefully employed to actuate the telescopic tube assemblies into their extended and retracted positions and thus supplement the action required to actuate the telescopic boom section to its several positions.

It will be understood, of course, that modifications can be made in the preferred modification of the invention described and illustrated herein without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a mucking machine of the telescopic boom-type having a first boom section and a telescopic boom section slidably carried for retraction into and extension from the first boom section, a bucket carried 'by the free end of the telescopic section, fluid actuated, double acting piston means for moving said bucket into material collecting, carrying and discharging positions, the improvement which comprises a pair of telescopic fluid feed tube assemblies secured to and carried by said telescopic boom and first boom sections, each tube assembly comprising an inner tube having a central opening and rigidly connected at one end to said first section and an outer tube rigidly connected at one end to the free end of the telescopic section such that the free end of said inner tube is slidably mounted in telescopic relation within said outer tube defining an annular space therebetween, a double acting piston formed on the free end of each of said inner tubes adapted for slidable travel within said outer tubes, conduit means for communicating one of said inner tube central openings with one side of said bucket actuating piston means and with one side of said inner tube piston means and conduit means for communicating the other inner tube central opening to the other side of said bucket actuating piston means and the other side of said inner tube piston means.

2. In a mucking machine of the telescopic boom-type having a first boom section and a telescopic boom section slidably carried for retraction into and extension from the first boom section, a bucket carried by the free end of the telescopic section, fluid actuated, double acting piston means for moving said bucket into material collecting, carrying and discharging positions, the improvement which comprises a pair of telescopic fluid feed tube assemblies secured to and carried by said telescopic boom and first boom sections, each tube assembly comprising an inner tube having a central opening and rigidly connected at one end to said first section and an outer tube rigidly connected at one end to the free end of the telescopic section such that the free end of said inner tube is slidably mounted in telescopic relation within said outer tube defining an annular space therebetween, a double acting piston formed on the free end of each of said inner tubes adapted for slidable travel within said outer tubes, conduit means for communicating one of said inner tube central openings with one side of said bucket actuating piston means and with one side of said inner tube piston means for concurrently closing said bucket and retracting the inner tube within the outer tube, and a second conduit means for communicating the other inner tube central opening to the other side of said bucket actuating piston means and the other side of said inner tube piston means for concurrently opening said bucket and extending the inner tube from the outer tube.

3. In a mucking machine of the telesopic boom-type having a first boom section and a telescopic boom section slidably carried for retraction into and extension from the first section, a bucket carried by the free end of the telescopic boom section, fluid actuated double acting piston means for moving said bucket into material collecting, carrying and discharging positions, the improvement which comprises a pair of spaced telescopic tube assemblies secured to and carried by the telescopic and first boom sections, each telescopic tube assembly comprising an inner tube having a central opening and secured at one end to the first boom section and an outer tube rigidly secured at one end to the free end of the telescopic section, the free end of said inner tube being slidably mounted in telescopic relation with said outer tube to form an annular space between said tubes, conduit means for communicating each tube assembly annular space with the other, a double acting piston formed on each of the inner tubes at the forward ends thereof for slidable travel within said outer tubes, one of said inner tubes having at least one radial opening communicating the central opening of said tube with said annular spaces, a chamber formed in each outer tube between the fixed end of the tube and the free end of the inner tube, conduit means for communicating each chamber with the other, the second of said inner tubes having an axial opening communicating the central opening of said tube with said chambers, conduit means for communicating the end chambers with said piston means for moving said bucket into a material discharging position and conduit means for communicating the annular spaces with said piston means for moving said bucket into a material collecting and carrying position.

References (Iited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 868,946 10/ 07 Smulders. 1,371,293 3/21 Brackett. 2,732,083 1/56 Smith 214-658 2,781,140 2/57 Cryderman 214-657 2,949,201 8/60 MacAlpine et a1. 214657 2,979,215 4/61 Brisson 214-147 HUGO O. SCHULZ, Pnimary Examiner.

MORRIS TEMIN, Examliner. 

1. IN A MUCKING MACHINE OF THE TELESCOPIC BOOM-TYPE HAVING A FIRST BOOM SECTION AND A TELESCOPIC BOOM SECTION SLIDABLY CARRIED FOR RETRACTION INTO AND EXTENSION FROM THE FIRST BOOM SECTION, A BUCKET CARRIED BY THE FREE END OF THE TELESCOPIC SECTION, FLUID ACTUATED, DOUBLE ACTING PISTON MEANS FOR MOVING SAID BUCKET INTO MATERIAL COLLECTING, CARRYING AND DISCHARGING POSITIONS, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A PAIR OF TELESCOPIC FLUID FEED TUBE ASSEMBLIES SECURED TO AND CARRIED BY SAID TELESCOPIC BOOM AND FIRST BOOM SECTIONS, EACH TUBE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING AN INNER TUBE HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING AND RIGIDLY CONNECTED AT ONE END TO SAID FIRST SECTION AND AN OUTER TUBE RIGIDLY CONNECTED AT ONE END TO THE FREE END OF THE TELESCOPIC SECTION SUCH THAT THE FREE END OF SAID INNER TUBE IS SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN TELESCOPIC RELATION WITHIN SAID OUTER TUBE DEFINING AN ANNULAR SPACE THEREBETWEEN, A DOUBLE ACTING PISTON FORMED ON THE FREE END OF EACH OF SAID INNER TUBES ADAPTED FOR SLIDABLE TRAVEL WITHIN SAID INNER TUBE CONDUIT MEANS FOR COMMUNICATING ONE OF SAID INNER TUBE CENTRAL OPENINGS WITH ONE SIDE OF SAID BUCKET ACTUATING PISTON MEANS AND WITH ONE SIDE OF SAID INNER TUBE PISTON MEANS AND CONDUIT MEANS FOR COMMUNICATING THE OTHER INNER TUBE CENTRAL OPENING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID BUCKET ACTUATING PISTON MEANS AND THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID INNER TUBE PISTON MEANS. 